Joseph soutee



l. SOUTER.

Grain-Drier.

Patented Sept. 14, 1875.

E S S. Mi

N. PEI'ERS. PHOTO-UIHOGRAPN NrrED 'STATns PATENT OFFIC osn'rn sournn, or BUFFALO, N. Y. 'AssIeNoR 0F Two-trumps rs RIGHT TO CHARLES YLANKLER nnnenonen A. PHILLIPS, OF; SAMEPLAOE.

. IMPROVEMENTZIN GRAIN-DRIERS'.

. Specification forming part of Letters Patent No, 167,797., dated September 14, 1875 application filed I August 2, 1875 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH SoUTER, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Iniprovements on Grain and Malt Dricr's, and I do hereby declare that the following description, taken in connection With'the accompanying drawings, forms a full and exact specification, wherein are set forth the nature of my invention, and the 'mode in which it is-best carried into effect.

The object of my present invention is the production of anapparatus whereupon wet grain, malt, and the like can be effectually dried, and the result obtained in a thorough and satisfactory manner. In order to perform these functions properly, I arrange within a suitably-constructed frame of metal or wood a number of revolving drums, having a coni cal or tapering shell, so that during the revolution thereof the grain shall feed itself automatically downward until it reaches the lower drum of the series, from whence it shall pass into a receiver to be elevated to the place of storage, or again over the drying apparatus,

as ciroumstances shall demand. The said drums are arranged one above the other, in such a manner that the larger end of oneshall beopposite the small end of the next drum below, and those ends connected by means of a conveyer or hopper surrounding the larger end, and entering the smaller end of the next lower drum. Within the said-drums shall be arranged a series of longitudinal ribs projecting radially from the outer shell, which projections shall elevate the grain contained in the said drums while revolving, and drop it again, so as to spread it into small particles when subjected to a hot blast of air blown through the said drums, and thereby effectually dried and restored to a good and market able condition.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertains to make and use the same, I shall proceed to describe its particulars, thereby referring to the-hereinbefore-mentioned drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved drying apparatus. Fig. 2is

a plan of the same; and Fig. 3, an end view of one-of the revolving drums,similar parts being marked with corresponding letters in all the figures.

' X is theframe for my drier. It is a rectangular skeleton of suitable material, properly connected and braced, and provided with a number of bearings arranged upon cross-ties T, to contain the shaftsv O of the revolving drums B. These drums B consist of conical shells of sheet metal, and they are connected with the shafts O by the spider-wheels D. Within the drums are arranged, radially projecting, a number of shelves or ribs, A, extending longitudinally the whole length of the said drums, while the smaller end of these drums are partially closed by a rim, A, which rim serves to prevent the grain from escaping on that end of the drums B. The shafts'O are arranged horizontally and parallel with each other, so as. to revolve with but little friction. A series of the drums B are situated one above the other, with their larger end always opposite the smaller end of the next drum 'above, and they are revolved simultaneously by means of the bevel-gearing E, or other analogous contrivance, receiving its motion from the vertical shaft F through the pulley G, to which, in turn, motion is communicated from the main shaft H by means ofa belt, as clearly shown inthe drawings.

The grain to be dried enters the uppermost drum through the hopper K, and, passing through this drum, discharges into a conveyer, K, which conveyer surrounds the larger end of the drum B to within the center thereof,.or higher, if necessary, to prevent the spattering of the grain on the discharge end of the drums, when the same is elevated by the radially-projecting ribs A, and dropping therefrom by gravitation, and influenced by the current of air passing out of the drum on that end, has a tendency to spatter. Thus the conveyer or hopper K gathers the grain on the discharge end, and it delivers the same to the next drum below, &c., until it reaches the lowest drum, from whence it discharges into a receiver, L. An elevator, O, is stationed in this receiver L, to convey the grain either to the place of storage or again upon the drying apparatus if not properly dried. This elevator receives motion from the main shaft H in the usual manner.

The projections A serve to elevate the grain within the drumsB for a distanceyand then to drop it again, thus separating the mass into the smallest number of particles, so that a blast of heated air,b1own through the drums by'means' of a blowing-enginefR ducts B, and

branchesU will penetrate the grain, and ef-.

fectually evaporate and absorb its moisture, so that when the said grain finally reaches the lowest drum it will be perfectly dry and in: a condition suitable for market purposes.

The air is heated by means of a suitably-arranged furnaceor a steam-heater before'iten ters the blower, and forwarded to the drums in.

such quantity and at such a temperature most suitable for the purpose; but if a hot-air furnace is connectedwith this apparatusthe air should not be heated therein to such. an extent as to scorch the grain.

In the drawing, Fig. 2, I have shown'a blower provided with a steam-heater, consisting of a number of tubes arranged within a shell, the air passing through the tubes and superheated steam surroundingthem, thus he I parting to the airsuiiicient heatto accomplish the result to be obtained. This arrangement, however, :is; not an essential feature of my invention, and various other devicesmay beresorted to torheatthe air.

The stationary branches U of the duct R "enter the ends of the drums B, and. extend fth ereinfor a distance to compel the air to take its course through the same, the branchesbeing arranged as .near the centerfof the said drums as is consistent with the other arrangements thereof.

The whole apparatus isyprovided witha jacket having outlets V to pass the products of evaporation, &c.,.and'it serves the purpose of confiningthe heat within the drier.

It will be observed that the drums'Bconsistof conical vshells of non-perforated sheet metal,iand -'that they revolve in a horizontal plane, their axiallines being horizontal and parallel with each other. "Bythus constructingt'he drums, the Tel ght of the moving parts and thecontents oflthe said drums are equally divided and distributed upon the bearings on each side of the shells, in direct opposition t6 those grain-driers which have a. cylindrical shell revolving in an inclined plane, and where non-perforated drums arranged one above the other, and revolving with their axiallines in a horizontal plane, with the larger end of one drum opposite the smaller end of the next, substantially as described.

2. Ina drying apparatus, the combination, with the-non-perforated conical shell B,.of the longitudinal radially-proj ecting ribs A, spiders D, and the shaft 0, saidshaft being arranged horizontally within .a suitable frame, and rotated bymechanism, substantially as described, for the use and purpose set forth.

3. In a drying apparatus, the combination,

;with the drums B, arranged horizontally within a suitable frame, of the hopper K hot-air duct R, and receiver L, said drums consisting of conical non perforated shells,havingspiderarms D and shafts G, and. the inwardly-projectin g rim A, and revolving in a horizontal plane, substantially as described, for the purpose stated. e p

4. llhecombination, with the skeleton frame X, provided with the bearings for the shafts O, of the series of revolving drumsB, having bevel-wheels E on their: ends, connected with the upright shaft. F, hoppers K K, andthe duct R, provided with the branches U, extending-within the said drums B, the whole constructedand arranged substantially in a manner and for the use and purpose set forth and "described.

This specificationcsubscribed by me this 26th day of July, 1875, in the presence of twosubscribingwitnesses. p JOSEPH SOUTEB. Witnesses:

-l\IIIGHAEL J. STARK,

. FRANK Hmsen. 

